Featured Releases: September

How is it already almost September? Somehow, this summer has flown by, and now school has started up again, I’m getting back into my regular routine, and I’m not on my way towards finishing my final year of school. Ever. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about that. So, to celebrate, let’s talk about some amazing books that are going to release over the next month! As I started doing last month, I have my 6 or so Featured Releases listed first, and those are the books that I absolutely cannot wait to read and highly recommend. Then, at the bottom of the list, I have some other books that I have discovered by some authors that have either been on my radar for a while, or even some new authors I’ve stumbled upon as I’ve worked on this list! Let’s get to them!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Read and Loved in School

Happy Tuesday! Since school has officially begun for most students, this week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about back to school. It is a freebie, however, which means I get to post about anything I want—back to school related of course—so I decided I wanted to talk about some school books I have read. However, these aren’t just stuffy textbooks, but rather are some books I read back in middle and high school that I really loved. I still remember reading all of these, and I definitely remember really enjoying them. Honestly, I would still read them now, even though I don’t have to!

My Bookshelf: Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones

Secrets can be funny things…

We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It’s a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way.

As the lives of this boisterous pastor’s wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect on the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump

Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about books that are sure to pull you out of a reading slump. Since I think the perfect books to pull anyone out of a slump are the best, most captivating, intriguing, and memorable stories, I pulled these ten books straight from my all-time favorites list. All of these are novels that fit at least one of those descriptions above (i.e. they’re either memorable or intriguing or captivating), and are novels that I highly recommend, whether you’re in a reading slump or not!

To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie’s father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny troublesome detail—Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in a Different Country

Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is fairly similar to last weeks, for me anyway. What I mean by that is, just like last week, the chosen topic isn’t one that I really feel like I can talk about. The actual topic for today is all about our favorite book blogs and websites, but I don’t really spend as much time on blogs and such as I would like, so I don’t have a list of ten, or even six honestly. Because of that, I decided that once again I will do a throwback post, since I missed so many earlier in the year. So today I’m talking all about books that I’ve read that are set in a different country!

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from “Aunt” Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding’s head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade’s head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for “betraying” the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

A Moment of Honesty

Happy Thursday! Over the past few weeks, my Thursday posts have become a place for me to really get on my “soap box” and talk about the issues that have been on my mind and heart. I tend to be a very passionate person, and I often have an opinion about many of the issues I come into contact with from day to day, so I have really enjoyed being able to share those with you, and hopefully inspire you to really look at them differently. And for the time being, I will continue to do that whenever I have something to say. Hopefully you—my lovely readers—enjoy reading those kinds of posts.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been on My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read

Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about books that I would mash together, but I just don’t really think about books that way. Although that is a very interesting topic and I wish I had something more along those lines, I just can’t think of any books I would mash with another. So, even though this technically isn’t in the rules, I’m doing a throwback post instead. Since I took a break from my blog and Top Ten Tuesday awhile back, I missed some really interesting topics. I’m sharing one of those today instead, because I really wanted to be a part of it, though I am quite a few weeks behind. So, today I’m actually talking about some books that have been on my TBR list for a really long time, but I somehow still haven’t read them!

My Bookshelf: Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

When Noah and Josephine discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job and settled at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.

Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.

But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.

As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

My Bookshelf: Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

After years of hiding her true nature, Miss Temperance Flowerdew is finally enjoying freedom outside of the shadow of her relations, so the last thing she expected on her way to work was to be grabbed off the street by a stranger and put on a train bound for Chicago.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend, Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind her abduction, they’re spotted alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Even though Gilbert is willing to propose marriage, Temperance is determined not to lose her newfound independence. But when the misunderstanding in Chicago escalates into a threat on her life, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

Caught by Surprise is the third book in Jen Turano’s Apart from the Crowd series, coming after Behind the Scenes and Out of the Ordinary. I have been a huge fan of Jen’s ever since I first read one of her books years and years ago, and I have read everything she has written ever since. Honestly, I have to say, I think that this is my favorite series she has written so far, there is just something about it that has made me really enjoy it. Although, I always enjoy everything she writes. There is always the perfect mixture of romance, hilarity, and mystery, and I happen to be extremely fond of Jen’s writing style. And historical novels.

As I said in my review of the last book, I was waiting until I read Caught by Surprise before deciding which of the three books was my favorite in the series, and…that was a good idea. Because Caught by Surprise is DEFINITELY my favorite. Although I have absolutely loved every book in this series, I just couldn’t help but fall in love with Temperance and Gilbert, and I found their story to be even more irresistible than the others. There is just something about Temperance—maybe it is her great affinity for adventures, or the way she is completely happy when she’s truly herself, no matter what others think—that reminds her a little bit of me, and that made me love her all the more. So much about her joy, her true character that she heartily embraced once she found her independence that really inspired me, and reminded me of how I should always embrace myself as well and never be afraid to be truly me. And I just love characters who inspire me.

Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the mystery of it all. There were so many wonderful twists and turns, some unexpected, some I hoped would happen so in a way they were somewhat expected, both just as intriguing and just as perfect. The way they were constantly dodging threats, running from that first abduction and then all that came after, leant such a delightful amount of suspense—of the lighthearted variety—to the story, and I absolutely loved the way that Jen weaved it all together, especially with the numerous revelations that came with it. The plotline of this novel was just so perfectly mapped out; I couldn’t have imagined it any better myself, and that made it all that much more wonderful.

Not only that, but Gilbert is also one of my absolute favorite parts of this story. I absolutely loved watching how he grew as a character throughout the course of this book, and though I won’t spoil it for anyone, suffice it to say that even though I loved him at the beginning, I loved him all that much more at the end. He really is the perfect match for Temperance, and though I won’t spoil any part of that either, I absolutely loved how their story progressed, and especially how it ended. Besides that, the many parts that Permilia, Asher, Gertrude, and Hamilton played all throughout this book were just the perfect addition, and I loved getting to catch up with them since I have missed them in the time it’s been since I read their novels.

All in all, I absolutely loved this book. Caught by Surprise is the perfect conclusion to this series, and I cannot imagine it being any better. Jen did a phenomenal job of capturing these characters, and their stories, in a way I will not soon forget. I am so very glad that I have this book on my bookshelf, as I know it is one that I will read many more times in the years to come, and I cannot wait to lend it to all of my lovely reader friends. I highly recommend Caught by Surprise, and the rest of the series, to anyone who loves a good romance, an intriguing mystery, and a lot of laughter, and I can promise you that this book is one that you are sure to enjoy.

Happy reading!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Jen Turano and Bethany House Publishing.

Is This Christianity?

Over the past few weeks, possibly the past few months actually, I have been involved in a lot of conversations about the church of today and with the boxes we place everything in, our churches, our services, our worship, our ministry. Everything fits nicely into these perfect little boxes that are used all over the world, where church all looks the same and everything is done in almost the exact same ways and there is no room for creativity, no room for God to work. Because, if you haven’t noticed by now, nothing about God fits into any kind of box we could ever create. So why should our church, our worship, our ministry?

Currently—August

Happy first day of August! I cannot believe August is already here, it feels like summer just started yesterday! And yet, here we are, with less than four weeks before I start my senior year of college. It’s bittersweet really, with this being my last summer before I become a college graduate, but I am also excited for all that is to come. So, I am moving forward with at least a little excitement, because I cannot wait to see all that this month, and the rest of the year, will bring. But for now, let’s just talk about what I’m up to right now! I’m currently…